Ohio State has never been on the ropes like this

Ohio State's current football predicament has never been more dire, as the team finds itself teetering on the brink of elimination from the College Football Playoff rankings. While the Buckeyes have never fallen below seventh since the rankings were introduced in 2014, they now appear vulnerable to being left out of the postseason, potentially for the last time before the field expands to 24 teams.

The situation has accelerated at a startling pace, reminiscent of the USC freshman tight end Mark Bowman's 70-yard completion against Ohio State's safety Jaylen McClain during Saturday's game.

Despite having four games left against relatively weak opponents, Ohio State's chances of securing a playoff spot are increasingly slim. With a backup quarterback set to remain on the field indefinitely, the team faces a multitude of challenges. The initial catalyst for this crisis was the injury to starting QB Julian Sayin, which exposed Ohio State's lack of quality depth in the quarterback position amidst the transfer portal era. However, the team's troubles run deeper than just the lack of a reliable backup.

The defense has generally held up well, but the offense remains a concern. The once-elite team has struggled with a backup QB that has not yet arrived, and the running game continues to underperform. Ryan Day, Ohio State's head coach, did not prioritize Tavien St. Clair, a promising second-year QB, and instead opted for a less experienced transfer, Luke Fahey, who has yet to demonstrate the necessary skill set to make a significant impact.

Fahey's performance against USC was a stark reminder of the team's struggles, as he failed to contribute effectively in critical situations.

Moreover, Ohio State's run game has been a significant disappointment, ranking 90th in the nation in yards per carry. The team has only managed a handful of impressive rushing plays all year, with the majority of these coming late in games. With the majority of the offense relying on a single, highly mobile quarterback, the lack of a reliable running game has left the offense vulnerable to opposing defenses.

As Ohio State faces a series of challenging opponents in the remainder of their schedule, the team's prospects for a playoff berth are hanging by a thread.